Sustainable consumption and production (SCP) is about "the use of services and related products, which respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials as well as the emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle of the service or product so as not to jeopardize the needs of further generations" (Oslo symposium, 1994).

The concept of sustainable consumption and production is recognized in the
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation adopted in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). It was acknowledged that sustainable consumption and production forms one of the three overarching objectives of, and essential requirements for, sustainable development, together with poverty eradication and the management of natural resources in order to foster economic and social development. It was recognized that fundamental changes in the way societies produce and consume are indispensable for achieving global sustainable development. It called for all countries to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, with the developed countries taking the lead and with all countries benefiting from the process, taking into account the Rio principles, including, inter alia, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities as set out in Principle 7 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. It also called for governments, relevant international organizations, the private sector and all major groups to play an active role in changing unsustainable consumption and production patterns.

The Marrakech Process, co-led by UN DESA and UNEP, was a global multi-stakeholder process to support the elaboration of a 10-Year Framework of Programs (10YFP) on sustainable consumption and production, as called for by the WSSD Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

The 10YFP on sustainable consumption and production patterns has been adopted at the Rio+20 Conference (paragraph 226), as contained in document A.CONF.216/5. It was highlighted that the programmes included in the 10YFP are voluntary.

UNEP has been requested to serve as the 10YFP Secretariat and to establish and administer a Trust Fund to support SCP implementation in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. (A/C.2/67/L.45)

The UN General Assembly Second Committee has adopted the decision to nominate ECOSOC as the interim reporting body, expected to be replaced by the High Level Political Forum and decided to establish a 10-member board consisting of two members of each UN regional group.

An Inter-Agency Coordination Group has been established among relevant United Nations bodies, including UN DESA, UNIDO, UNCTAD, UNDP, FAO, ILO, UN Habitat, UNICEF, UNESCO, ITC, UNOPS, UNU, UN Women, UNWFP, UNWTO, as well as the regional entities and commissions. The group has two co-chairs: UNEP, as the 10YFP Secretariat, and the second co-chair to be selected by the members on a two-year rotational basis. UN DESA has been invited to co-chair the group for the first 2-year cycle.